ShakeDown Radio Podcast

Chris Carragher, professionally known as Chris Caggs, is a 48‑year‑old Australian Radio DJ, Music Programmer, and Podcaster with nearly 30 years in the Australian radio industry. His long‑running show, ShakeDown Radio, has become a staple of EDM, Dance, House, Hip Hop, and RnB culture across Australia, broadcasting on major FM, digital, and online stations nationwide. With a career spanning 16 permanent radio stations and syndication across 200+ Community Radio Network (ComRad Satellite) outlets, Chris has built one of the most recognisable voices in Australian dance and urban broadcasting. Chris began his journey in July 1998, when his dream became reality on Pump FM 99.3FM Sydney, Australia’s first Hip Hop & RnB community station. Co‑hosting with Mista‑C, he helped shape the early sound of Sydney’s urban radio scene. Pump FM later relaunched as Dance Radio 99.3FM, and eventually Dance FM 94.5FM in August 2000, where Chris continued to champion emerging urban and dance sounds. Later in 1998, Chris joined DJ‑FM 87.6FM, a 24/7 dance station covering Sydney’s Inner City and CBD. Run by the Roberts Media Group, the station featured leading DJs including Frank Chiment, Antonio Avati, Joe Avati, Susie Stapleton, Dave Einfield, Andre Waitsman, Joe Corte, and Rob Brizzi. DJ‑FM was supported by major sponsors such as Central Station Records, Telstra, Carlton & United Breweries, Noizenet, Pulse Music, SBA Music, with Rebecca Tynan leading marketing and communications. From October 1999 to January 2001, Chris was on air and in music programming at Groove FM 96.9 & 94.5 Sydney, thanks to Darren Leigh, Mike Scott, and Fabrizio Vilardo. He hosted the weekday breakfast show and weekends, interviewing and working alongside major Australian media personalities including Andrew G (Channel [V], The Bachelor, The Masked Singer), Bessie Bardot, Rene Rivkin, DJ Nino Brown, Georgina Reed, Sam Boutros, Natasha Zuvela (MTV), Yvette Duncan (MTV), Zoe Naylor (Channel 9), and more. In August–September 2000, Chris moved to Brisbane to help launch Groove FM 97.3, hosting the breakfast show and contributing to music programming. He worked with Fez Lateef of Added Flava, Adrian Day, Dustin & Anna, Patrick Donohue, Scott Ferris, DJ Kina, and Kristian Hernandez. ⭐ Easter 2002 – Urban Authority, Added Flava & Glo at Minc Lounge A key milestone in Chris’s career came during Easter 2002, when he assisted Added Flava with promotions for Urban Authority, helping run Glo at Minc Lounge and Seventh Day at Hunter Bar. These events were pivotal in Sydney’s early‑2000s urban nightlife, blending Hip Hop, RnB, Dancehall, and Club culture. Chris’s promotional support, industry connections, and on‑air influence helped elevate the visibility of these iconic nights. From 1996–2006, Chris also broadcast on 2RDJ 88.1FM, Sydney’s Inner West community station, playing Hip Hop, RnB, and Dance. He worked with MC Maurice, DJ Alex K (Klubbed Up), DJ Fly Girl Tee, Ms Hennessey, Lorraine Alex, and others. Between 2001–2003, he hosted Thursday Flavours and filled in for Soulscope with Georgina Reed. Chris has appeared on major stations including Ozz Mixx Dance Radio, V1Radio, 4Play FM, Tune 1 Radio, Starter FM, Liquid Radio, Urban Movement Radio, MixxBosses Radio, Str8OUT Radio, Mix It Up Radio, Pump FM, 2NSB FM, 2RDJ‑FM, DJ‑FM, and Groove FM across Sydney and Brisbane. His work has been featured in Request Magazine, Radio Info, The Music Network, Player FM, Scene Magazine, Three‑D World, Revolver, Groove ON Media, The Queensland Independent, and North Shore Times.